Ask NASW-IL: Will this course be accepted for CEUs in Illinois?

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With so many continuing education options available online, one of the most common questions we receive at the NASW-Illinois Chapter is: “Will this course count for CEUs in Illinois?”

While the NASW-Illinois Chapter is not the licensing board and cannot make final determinations about what the Illinois Department of Financial & Professional Regulation (IDFPR) will accept, we’ve created this quick guide to help you evaluate whether a course is likely to meet Illinois requirements.

NASW-Illinois is an IDFPR–Approved CE Sponsor

The NASW-Illinois Chapter is an IDFPR-Approved CE Sponsor. All NASW–Illinois CEUs are accepted by IDFPR and clearly indicate in both the course description and the CEU certificate whether they fulfill specialty CEU content or Illinois state requirements.

Who is IDFPR?

The Illinois Department of Financial & Professional Regulation (IDFPR) is the licensing authority for regulated professions in Illinois, including social work. In addition to issuing and renewing licenses, IDFPR also approves continuing education sponsors like NASW-IL.

Any organization that offers CEUs for Illinois-licensed professionals must maintain an active provider license with IDFPR.

How to Determine if a Course Will Be Accepted for CEUs

In order to find out whether a course will be accepted for CEUs in Illinois, it must fulfill the following requirements:

1. Is the provider IDFPR-approved? To be accepted in Illinois, the course must be offered by an IDFPR–Approved CE Sponsor.

   • The NASW-Illinois Chapter, national NASW, and all of our NASW Chapter affiliates are IDFPR–Approved CE Sponsors.

2. If the course is remote, does it include an exam? IDFPR requires an exam for any remote program (e.g., self-study, book-study, or computer/internet based course). If a remote course does not offer an exam, it will not be accepted for CEUs in Illinois.

   • All NASW-Illinois (and Nevada) Chapter live virtual trainings will provide a post-event examination to fulfill the IDFPR exam requirement.

   • Social Work Online CE Institute courses without exams can be accepted for CEUs in Illinois with completion of our 2025-27 SW Online CE Institute Exam for IL License.

3. Does it meet Illinois specialty CEU content requirements (if applicable)? If you are using a course to fulfill a specialty requirement, the content must fulfill the specific Illinois statutory or administrative rules for that topic.

   
   

   Any NASW-Illinois Chapter course that fulfills a specialty requirement will be clearly labeled in the course description and on the CEU certificate (for example, "Cultural Competency CEUs" or "Fulfills IL Implicit Bias Training requirement").

How do I find out whether a course fulfills specialty content requirements (i.e., ethics or cultural competency CEUs) in Illinois?

The course content must directly address the ethical practice of social work (for ethics CEUs) or cultural competence in the practice of social work (for cultural competency CEUs) as defined by Illinois administrative rules. Simply being related to practice is not enough—the content must clearly align with the requirement.

What about other Illinois specialty trainings?

Requirements for the following Illinois specialty trainings are set by different Illinois laws and rules:

• Implicit Bias Awareness

• Sexual Harassment Prevention

• Alzheimer's Disease and Other Dementias

• Mandated Reporter Training with Implicit Bias Section, and

• Clinical Supervision

For a detailed breakdown of what each training must cover, visit the "More About the Specialty CEU Training Requirements" section on our CEU Requirements webpage.

Are NASW National and other NASW Chapter courses accepted?

While NASW National and all NASW chapter affiliates are IDFPR-Approved CE sponsors, their courses must still fulfill the following:

• Meet Illinois exam requirements for remote learning, and

• Fully cover Illinois-specific content when used for specialty CEU fulfillment.

When in doubt, review the course description carefully to confirm that it addresses and fulfills Illinois state requirements.

A Final Tip

Before registering for any course, take a moment to confirm the provider status, format, and content. Doing so can save you time, money, and stress at license renewal.

Additional Resources

• NASW CEU Requirements webpage

• NASW-Illinois Chapter Continuing Education Worksheet for 2025–2027 LSW/LCSW Licensure

• Ask NASW-IL: Can a CEU course fulfill 2 CEU specialties at once?

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Have More Questions?

All specific questions about licensure, individual licenses, or a particular application must be directed to IDFPR, as they are the state agency responsible for issuing and approving licenses in Illinois.

The NASW-Illinois Chapter website also offers a wide range of licensure resources—covering supervision requirements, the application process, exam information, and more. Visit the NASW-IL Licensure page to explore these tools and guides.

Resources like this article exist because of our members. Membership dollars make it possible for our small but dedicated staff to research changing laws and rules, develop clear guidance, and respond to member questions with accuracy and care. When you join or renew, you’re not only investing in your own professional success—you’re helping ensure that Illinois social workers continue to have a trusted source for licensure support, advocacy, and up-to-date information.

If you’ve found this guide helpful, we invite you to join or renew your NASW membership today and be part of the community that makes this work possible.